Elizabeth (Glendenning) Spencer (abt. 1800 - 1874)

Born about 19 Dec 1800 in Staindrop, Durham, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of William Spencer — married about 16 Nov 1825 in Parochial Church, Barnard Castle, Durham, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 3 Oct 1874 at about age 73 in Willow Tree, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

This bio is under construction. If you would like to contribute or have any additional information, please leave a Comment below or send me a Private Message. Thanks, Susan.

Bio researched and written by Susan Stopford. First publ. 1 Aug 2021. Last updated: 16 Aug 2021 ©2021 Susan Stopford.

Birth
Elizabeth Spencer died aged 77 years at Borambil Creek, near Willow Tree, in the Colony of New South Wales, on 3 Oct 1874, suggesting she was born about 1797. According to her death certificate, she was born in Durham, England.^[1][2] Her parentage is uncertain. Neither parent is named on the death certificate. Some researchers think she was the Elizabeth Glendening born 19 Dec 1800, Staindrop, Durham, England, daughter of James Glendenning (1770-1836) and Mary (Stokeld) Glendenning (1769-).^[3]

Poss Baptism

County Durham Place (Links to more information) Staindrop Church name (Links to more information) St Mary Register type (Links to more information) Unspecified Register entry number 42 Birth date 19 Dec 1800 Baptism date 1 Feb 1801 Person forename Eliza Person sex F Father forename James Mother forename Mary Father surname GLENDENNING Mother surname STOKELD Father occupation Labourer Notes 3rd child. Father native of Staindrop and mother native of Wickham Transcribed by Christine Elliott File line number 1801 (1)

Alt poss baptisms

Elizabeth GLENDENING Baptism 16 Feb 1794 Durham Sedgefield : St Edmund : Unspecified (Mother: Mary Glendenning; Cited as illegitimate. Entry ends with a P)

Elizth GLENDENING Baptism 17 Mar 1805 Durham Houghton-le-Spring : St Michael : Bishop's Transcript Parents: George (a pitman) and Jane; residents at Philadelphia. (1a)

Marriage & Children
Her death certificate shows she was the wife of William Spencer. Most researchers think the Elizabeth Spencer who died at Borambil Creek was the widow of William Spencer (abt. 1793-1855).^[2] Again, this is possible but the evidence is scant. William Spencer was not an uncommon name and her death certificate provides no further information about their marriage (the Informant did not know Elizabeth's place of marriage, or age at marriage, or how long she'd been in the Colony). Further, the death certificate for the Elizabeth who died at Borambil Creek shows she had only three children (1 male and two females living) whereas William Spencer (abt. 1793-1855) and his wife Elizabeth had at least ten children (although possibly, the Informant knew of only three).

Probable children of William Spencer (abt. 1793-1855) and his wife Elizabeth were:

• James Spencer Glendening (bef.1825-) (bp. 16 Nov 1825, Barnard Castle, Durham, England)^[4]
• Mary Spencer 1827-1911
• John Spencer 1828-
• James Spencer (aft. 1828-1878)
• Elizabeth Spencer 1829-1914
• William Spencer 1832-1910
• Margaret Spencer 1834-1904
• Jane (Spencer) Fazey (1835-1915)
• Robert Spencer 1838-1938
• Isabella Spencer 1840-1870
• Anne Spencer 1845-1916
• William S. Spencer 1848-
• George Spencer 1850-1867

It follows the Elizabeth Spencer that died at Borambil Creek may or may not be the widow of William Spencer (abt. 1793-1855).

Immigration
Most researchers think William Spencer (abt. 1793-1855) and his wife Elizabeth emigrated to the Colony of New South Wales on the Caroline in 1828 as free settlers.

Life in the Colony of New South Wales -William Spencer (abt. 1793-1855) and Elizabeth Spencer

Jane (Spencer) Fazey's Obituary published in 1915 gives the following account of her father's life:

"[William] Spencer came out to Australia in the early days as overseer of the Government men (or convicts, as they were then known.) For a time [he] lived at the Cowpasture, which is where part of Sydney is now built, and the early life of the deceased lady witnessed many of the scenes which are best buried with the past. From Sydney, [he] was transferred to a similar position in Maitland till the convict system was abolished, and afterwards went in for farming on the famous Bolwarra..."^[5]

According to William's death notice, the couple were 26 years in the Maitland district.^[6] Records show they lived at Bolwarra from at least 1841 (when a number of their children were baptised on the same day) through to William's death in early 1855.

In Bolwarra, her husband, William, was a tenant farmer on the Bolwarra Estate. The estate, was previously the property of the large wholesale and retail house of M'ssrs D & J. Dickson, but was later acquired by David Dickson (abt.1808-1867) of that firm who became the sole proprietor. Dickson let out the greater portion in farms of moderate size, and farmed a small portion himself. Being close to Maitland, having navigable river frontages within reach of the droghing steamers, and embracing a great quantity of very rich cultivation land, the estate was reported to be one of the most valuable to farmers of any in the district.^[7] However, it was subject to severe and frequent flooding.

On 1 Jan 1851, William signed a 7 year lease for an allotment on Bolwarra Estate. After William's death, Elizabeth initially remained on the property and continued to pay the agreed rent and till the land, presumably with the assistance of her sons and sons in law. However, Herbert Higgins had his eye on her allotment and also the allotment leased by her son in law, William Duckworth, and its seems Dickson promised them both to Higgins. Possibly, Higgins offered Dickson more money, or perhaps Dickson, a devout presbyterian, was tired of William Duckworth's drunken antics? In Jan 1858, Dickson made an application under the Tenements' Act, to recover possession of the land Elizabeth occupied, and also the separate portion leased by William Duckworth. In Court, Elizabeth claimed Dickson had told her she had no call to the land after her husband's death, but as long as she paid the rent and tilled the land, that she could keep it. Her lawyer also argued that the lease had not been nullified and she held it as her late husband's executrix. Unfortunately, the Court was not persuaded by these arguments and found in favour Dickson, ordering possession of both allotments be given up within 21 days.^[8]

It is not clear if Elizabeth left the District immediately but the Duckworths had moved north by about 1860 and it is likely Elizabeth went with them.

By the time of her death on 3 Oct 1874, she was living near the small village of Willow Tree, on the Liverpool Plains, about 14km south of Quirindi where she was a nurse.^[2]

Death & Burial
Elizabeth died aged 77 years from sanguineous apoplexy at Borambil Creek, near Willow Tree, on 3 Oct 1874. Her death was registered two days later in the District of Murrurundi. The informant was William Gray (no relation), a resident of Willow Tree, who possibly found her body. She was buried in Murrundi on 5 Oct 1874. Strangely, an autopsy was performed, despite her advanced age, suggesting a question mark over her cause of death. However, it found she died of natural causes.^[2][9]

Research Notes

(a) YOB (1797) estimated from her age at death (77 years on 5 Oct 1874).
Note: The DOB and birth place currently entered in the Data Field (19 Dec 1800, Staindrop, Durham, England) was entered by another researcher and is unsourced.

• (1) https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/58180c44e93790ec8ba2ae2e/eliza-glendenning-baptism-durham-staindrop-1801-02-01?locale=en
• (1a) https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_queries/64279ff1c2333079f4a31cae?locale=en

(b) Possible marriage: 16 Nov 1825, Parochial Church of Barnard Castle, Durham, England. Elizabeth was 24 and William 23 years of age.

Sources

1. ↑ See Research Note (a)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} 'Elizabeth Spencer’. Certified copy of Death Certificate. Date and place of death: 3 October 1874, Borambil Creek. Registered: Murrurundi, 5 Oct 1874. NSWBDM Reg. No.: #6404/1874, issued 06 May 2004. Copy with Susan Stopford.
3. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5ZW-L8K : 21 March 2020), Elizabeth Glendening, 1801.
4. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7KW-LRF : 22 March 2020), James Spencer Glenderings, 1825. Mother: Elizabeth Glenderings. No father listed.
5. ↑ Possibly publ in The Quirindi Gazette and Liverpool Plains Advocate Tuesday, March 9 1915. Not available on Trove.
6. ↑ 1855 'Family Notices', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 3 February, p. 3. , viewed 15 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article697705
7. ↑ 1867 'DEATH OF MR. DAVID DICKSON.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 1 June, p. 4. , viewed 15 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18726106
8. ↑ 1858 'COLONIAL MARKETS.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 14 January, p. 2. , viewed 14 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18648213
9. ↑ NSWBDM Death Index. Name: SPENCER ELIZABETH. Registration no.: 6406/1874. Father's Given Name(s): AGE 77 YEARS. Mother's Given Name(s): DIED MURRURUNDI. Registration District: MURRURUNDI. Accessed: 14 Aug 2021.

• Additional sources to be added by Author.

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Susan Scarcella for creating this profile. Click through to the Changes tab to see contributions by Susan and others.